Wither (Chemical Garden Triology) by Lauren DeStefanoPages: 358
Grade: 9+ (mature sexual content, though nothing explicit)
On: Amazon | Goodreads
Description: (from Goodreads) Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive.
Thoughts: Oh man! This book was crazy. For some reason polygamous relationships really freak me out, so reading about one was intense for me. It was made even more intense by the fact that this polygamous relationship wasn't voluntary. The entire setup was just gut-wrenching. Since sex-trafficking already exists, I can honestly see how this situation could happen. It really doesn't seem like a huge stretch for me, which made this book a little more vivid than it might have been for the average reader. I can even believe the scenario that genetics get so mucked up that we all have a short shelf life - at least I can believe all of this when Lauren DeStefano writes it.
Her writing was absolutely beautiful even in such a dark and twisted world. Wither sinks you deep into a dark (and not so distant?) future. DeStefano's dystopian world is just real enough to truly be scary.
The plot of Wither could have been slow (don't worry, it isn't). From the description, it seems like the kidnapping is going to be the major action, but it's not (it happens in the first 25 pages). Once Rhine gets to her "prison" there isn't a lot of big action, but the interactions between the sister-wives is fascinating. Each wife has such a different reaction to their situation. What I found most compelling about Wither was Rhine's reactions to her sister-wives. She mothered a little, pitied a little, and even bullied a little. Rhine was a master of presenting whatever personality was needed in each situation. The interaction between her and her sister-wives was really fascinating to me. They developed tenuous friendships and rivalries, always walking a thin line between the two. Those relationships are what made this book really stand out. I'm curious how I'll feel about Rhine and her world in the next book since she'll be away from those other women.
Wither was a phenomenal debut and I can't wait to read Fever (due out Feb. 21)
Dark and twisty, dystopian at it's best.
